History Creator / OriginSystems

Origin Systems was an American video game developer and publisher, best known for creating the legendary ''VideoGame/{{Ultima}}'' and ''VideoGame/WingCommander'' franchises. It was founded in March 1983 by the brothers Richard (a.k.a. "Lord British") and Robert Garriott, their father Owen[[note]]an astronaut who flew both the Skylab and the Space Shuttle[[/note]], and their buddy Chuck Bueche[[note]]who would be immortalized as Chuckles the Jester in ''Ultimas II'' through ''VII''[[/note]], right on the eve of UsefulNotes/{{The Great Video Game Crash|Of1983}}, but the company's first offering, Lord British's 1983 ''VideoGame/UltimaIII: Exodus''[[note]]''VideoGame/UltimaI'' was published by the short-lived California Pacific, and ''VideoGame/UltimaII'', by Creator/{{Sierra}}, with whom Garriott fell out soon thereafter[[/note]], immediately established the newcomers among the top WesternRPG creators, a genre they would soon change forever with ''VideoGame/UltimaIV'' and its successors.

Over its two decades of existence, many soon-to-be-famous video game developers got their start at Origin Systems, thanks to its culture of visionary game design, pushing the limits of technology, and [[DoingItForTheArt never cutting corners in pursuit of artistic goals]]. Some of these names include [[VideoGame/WingCommander Chris]] [[VideoGame/StarCitizen Roberts]][[note]]the most notable one of the bunch in Origin's heyday as he was the foundation of their ''other'' major franchise[[/note]], Creator/JohnRomero, [[VideoGame/UltimaOnline Raph]] [[VideoGame/StarWarsGalaxies Koster]], [[VideoGame/UltimaUnderworld Paul]] [[VideoGame/UnderworldAscendant Neurath]], Creator/WarrenSpector, [[VideoGame/DeusEx Harvey]] [[Franchise/{{Dishonored}} Smith]], as well as the entire company of Creator/LookingGlassStudios[[note]]whose early breakthrough hits, both ''VideoGame/{{Ultima Underworld}}s'' and ''VideoGame/SystemShock'', had all been published by Origin[[/note]]. However, like many top CRPG developers of TheEighties, Origin was hit hard by the [[UsefulNotes/WesternRPG mid-90s crisis of the genre]], and encountered severe financial troubles on the publishing side of its business, despite the massive successes of the early ''{{VideoGame/Wing Commander}}s'' and ''VideoGame/UltimaVII''. Things went downhill from there.

* ''Shadowcaster'' (1993, as publisher), developed by Raven Software

In September 1992, the floundering Origin was bought out by Creator/ElectronicArts, who quickly began curbing the developers' habit of DoingItForTheArt and prioritized commercial success instead. Infamously, ''VideoGame/UltimaVIII'' was put on such a tight schedule, it shipped in an [[ObviousBeta unfinished and barely playable state]], and although EA originally saw no potential in ''VideoGame/UltimaOnline'', its surprise early success had led them to [[ExecutiveMeddling divert Origin's resources]] away from ''VideoGame/UltimaIX'', resulting in the latter's ''extremely'' TroubledProduction and, ultimately, a [[FranchiseKiller sad end]] for one of gaming's greatest epics.

In September 1992, the floundering Origin was bought out by Creator/ElectronicArts, who quickly began curbing the developers' habit of DoingItForTheArt and prioritized commercial success instead. Infamously, ''VideoGame/UltimaVIII'' was put on such a tight schedule, it shipped in an [[ObviousBeta unfinished and barely playable state]], and although EA originally saw no potential in ''VideoGame/UltimaOnline'', its surprise early success led them to [[ExecutiveMeddling divert Origin's resources]] away from ''VideoGame/UltimaIX'', resulting in the latter's ''extremely'' TroubledProduction and, ultimately, a [[FranchiseKiller sad end]] for one of gaming's greatest epics.

In September 1992, the floundering Origin was bought out by Creator/ElectronicArts, who quickly began curbing the developer's habit of DoingItForTheArt and prioritized commercial success instead. Infamously, ''VideoGame/UltimaVIII'' was put on such a tight schedule, it shipped in an [[ObviousBeta unfinished and barely playable state]], and although EA originally saw no potential in ''VideoGame/UltimaOnline'', its surprise early success led them to [[ExecutiveMeddling divert Origin's resources]] away from ''VideoGame/UltimaIX'', resulting in the latter's ''extremely'' TroubledProduction and, ultimately, a [[FranchiseKiller sad end]] for one of gaming's greatest epics.

* ''[[VideoGame/CyberMage [=CyberMage=]: Darklight Awakening]]'' (1995)

* ''[[VideoGame/CybermageDarklightAwakening [=CyberMage=]: Darklight Awakening]]'' (1995)

* ''[=CyberMage=]: Darklight Awakening'' (1995)

Over its two decades of existence, many soon-to-be-famous video game developers got their start at Origin Systems, thanks to its culture of visionary game design, pushing the limits of technology, and [[DoingItForTheArt never cutting corners in pursuit of artistic goals]]. Some of these names include [[VideoGame/WingCommander Chris]] [[VideoGame/StarCitizen Roberts]][[note]]the most notable one of the bunch in Origin's heyday as he was the foundation of their ''other'' major franchise[[/note]], Creator/JohnRomero, [[VideoGame/UltimaOnline Raph]] [[VideoGame/StarWarsGalaxies Koster]], [[VideoGame/UltimaUnderworld Paul]] [[VideoGame/UnderworldAscendant Neurath]], Creator/WarrenSpector, [[VideoGame/DeusEx Harvey]] [[Franchise/{{Dishonored}} Smith]], as well as the entire company of Creator/LookingGlassStudios[[note]]whose early breakthrough hits, both ''VideoGame/{{Ultima Underworld}}s'' and ''VideoGame/SystemShock'', had all been published by Origin[[/note]]. However, like many top CRPG developers of TheEighties, Origin was hit hard by the [[Analysis/WesternRPG mid-90s crisis of the genre]], and encountered severe financial troubles on the publishing side of its business, despite the massive successes of the early ''{{VideoGame/Wing Commander}}s'' and ''VideoGame/UltimaVII''. Things went downhill from there.

Over its two decades of existence, many soon-to-be-famous video game developers got their start at Origin Systems, thanks to its culture of visionary game design, pushing the limits of technology, and [[DoingItForTheArt never cutting corners in pursuit of artistic goals]]. Some of these names include [[VideoGame/WingCommander Chris]] [[VideoGame/StarCitizen Roberts]][[note]]the most notable one of the bunch in Origin's heyday as he was the foundation of their ''other'' major franchise[[/note]], Creator/JohnRomero, [[VideoGame/UltimaOnline Raph]] [[VideoGame/StarWarsGalaxies Koster]], [[VideoGame/UltimaUnderworld Paul]] [[VideoGame/UnderworldAscendant Neurath]], [[VideoGame/DeusEx Warren]] [[VideoGame/EpicMickey Spector]], [[VideoGame/DeusEx Harvey]] [[Franchise/{{Dishonored}} Smith]], as well as the entire company of Creator/LookingGlassStudios[[note]]whose early breakthrough hits, both ''VideoGame/{{Ultima Underworld}}s'' and ''VideoGame/SystemShock'', had all been published by Origin[[/note]]. However, like many top CRPG developers of TheEighties, Origin was hit hard by the [[Analysis/WesternRPG mid-90s crisis of the genre]], and encountered severe financial troubles on the publishing side of its business, despite the massive successes of the early ''{{VideoGame/Wing Commander}}s'' and ''VideoGame/UltimaVII''. Things went downhill from there.

Over its two decades of existence, many soon-to-be-famous video game developers got their start at Origin Systems, thanks to its culture of visionary game design, pushing the limits of technology, and [[DoingItForTheArt never cutting corners in pursuit of artistic goals]]. Some of these names include [[VideoGame/WingCommander Chris]] [[VideoGame/StarCitizen Roberts]] (the most notable one of the bunch in Origin's heyday as he was the foundation of their ''other'' major franchise), Creator/JohnRomero, [[VideoGame/UltimaOnline Raph]] [[VideoGame/StarWarsGalaxies Koster]], [[VideoGame/UltimaUnderworld Paul]] [[VideoGame/UnderworldAscendant Neurath]], [[VideoGame/DeusEx Warren]] [[VideoGame/EpicMickey Spector]], [[VideoGame/DeusEx Harvey]] [[Franchise/{{Dishonored}} Smith]], as well as the entire company of Creator/LookingGlassStudios[[note]]whose early breakthrough hits, both ''VideoGame/{{Ultima Underworld}}s'' and ''VideoGame/SystemShock'', had all been published by Origin[[/note]]. However, like many top CRPG developers of TheEighties, Origin was hit hard by the [[Analysis/WesternRPG mid-90s crisis of the genre]], and encountered severe financial troubles on the publishing side of its business, despite the massive successes of the early ''{{VideoGame/Wing Commander}}s'' and ''VideoGame/UltimaVII''. Things went downhill from there.

** ''Privateer 3''

** ''Wing Commander VII''

Over its two decades of existence, many soon-to-be-famous video game developers got their start at Origin Systems, thanks to its culture of visionary game design, pushing the limits of technology, and [[DoingItForTheArt never cutting corners in pursuit of artistic goals]]. Some of these names include [[VideoGame/WingCommander Chris]] [[VideoGame/StarCitizen Roberts]] (the most notable one of the bunch in Origin's heyday as he was the foundation of their ''other'' major franchise), Creator/JohnRomero, [[VideoGame/UltimaOnline Raph]] [[VideoGame/StarWarsGalaxies Koster]], [[VideoGame/UltimaUnderworld Paul]] [[VideoGame/UnderworldAscendant Neurath]], [[VideoGame/DeusEx Warren]] [[VideoGame/EpicMickey Spector]], [[VideoGame/DeusEx Harvey]] [[Franchise/{{Dishonored}} Smith]], as well as the entire company of Creator/LookingGlassStudios[[note]]whose early breakthrough hits, both ''VideoGame/{{Ultima Underworld}}s'' and ''VideoGame/SystemShock'', had all been published by Origin[[/note]]. However, like many top CRPG developers of TheEighties, Origin was hit hard by the [[Analysis/WesternRPG mid-90s crisis of the genre]], and encountered severe financial troubles on the publishing side of its business, despite the massive successes of the later ''{{VideoGame/Wing Commander}}s'' and ''VideoGame/UltimaVII''. Things went downhill from there.

Over its two decades of existence, many soon-to-be-famous video game developers got their start at Origin Systems, thanks to its culture of visionary game design, pushing the limits of technology, and [[DoingItForTheArt never cutting corners in pursuit of artistic goals]]. Some of these names include [[VideoGame/WingCommander Chris]] [[VideoGame/StarCitizen Roberts]], Creator/JohnRomero, [[VideoGame/UltimaOnline Raph]] [[VideoGame/StarWarsGalaxies Koster]], [[VideoGame/UltimaUnderworld Paul]] [[VideoGame/UnderworldAscendant Neurath]], [[VideoGame/DeusEx Warren]] [[VideoGame/EpicMickey Spector]], [[VideoGame/DeusEx Harvey]] [[Franchise/{{Dishonored}} Smith]], as well as the entire company of Creator/LookingGlassStudios[[note]]whose early breakthrough hits, both ''VideoGame/{{Ultima Underworld}}s'' and ''VideoGame/SystemShock'', had all been published by Origin[[/note]]. However, like many top CRPG developers of TheEighties, Origin was hit hard by the [[Analysis/WesternRPG mid-90s crisis of the genre]], and encountered severe financial troubles on the publishing side of its business, despite the massive successes of the later ''{{VideoGame/Wing Commander}}s'' and ''VideoGame/UltimaVII''. Things went downhill from there.

Over its two decades of existence, many soon-to-be-famous video game developers got their start at Origin Systems, thanks to its culture of visionary game design, pushing the limits of technology, and [[DoingItForTheArt never cutting corners in pursuit of artistic goals]]. Some of these names include [[VideoGame/WingCommander Chris]] [[VideoGame/StarCitizen Roberts]], Creator/JohnRomero, [[VideoGame/UltimaOnline Raph]] [[VideoGame/StarWarsGalaxies Koster]], [[VideoGame/UltimaUnderworld Paul]] [[VideoGame/UnderworldAscendant Neurath]], [[VideoGame/DeusEx Warren]] [[VideoGame/EpicMickey Spector]], [[VideoGame/DeusEx Harvey]] [[Franchise/{{Dishonored}} Smith]], as well as the entire company of Creator/LookingGlassStudios[[note]]whose early breakthrough hits, both ''VideoGame/{{Ultima Underworld}}s'' and ''VideoGame/SystemShock'', had all been published by Origin[[/note]]. However, like many top CRPG developers of TheEighties, Origin was hit hard by the [[Analysis/WesternRPG mid-90s crisis of the genre]], and encountered severe financial troubles on the publishing side of its business, despite the massive successes of ''VideoGame/WingCommander'' and ''VideoGame/UltimaVII''. Things went downhill from there.

''Ultima IX: Ascension'', released on November 24, 1999, was the last game Origin had ever finished. The remaining founders resigned in April 2000 to form [[VideoGame/TabulaRasa Destination Games]] and, much later, [[VideoGame/ShroudOfTheAvatar Portalarium]]. Origin Systems finally disbanded in February 2004, joining Creator/{{Bullfrog|Productions}} and Creator/{{Westwood|Studios}} as the third in the long list of [[https://heavy.com/games/2017/10/studios-ea-has-killed-visceral-games/ developers EA had acquired and shut down]]. In a darkly ironic twist, the "Origin" trademark got a second life in 2011, when Electronic Arts appropriated it as the name of its new digital games distribution platform. For more information on the [[https://www.filfre.net/2013/05/origin-systems/ birth]], [[http://www.escapistmagazine.com/articles/view/video-games/issues/issue_14/87-The-Conquest-of-Origin fall]], and [[https://techraptor.net/content/35th-anniversary-origin-systems-ultima legacy]] of Origin Systems, see the respective link.

''Ultima IX: Ascension'', released on November 24, 1999, was the last game Origin had ever finished. The remaining founders resigned in April 2000 to form [[VideoGame/TabulaRasa Destination Games]] and, much later, [[VideoGame/ShroudOfTheAvatar Portalarium]]. Origin Systems finally disbanded in February 2004, joining Creator/{{Bullfrog|Productions}} and Creator/{{Westwood|Studios}} as the third in the [[Timeline/ElectronicArts long list]] of [[https://heavy.com/games/2017/10/studios-ea-has-killed-visceral-games/ developers EA had acquired and shut down]]. In a darkly ironic twist, the "Origin" trademark got a second life in 2011, when Electronic Arts appropriated it as the name of its new digital games distribution platform. For more information on the [[https://www.filfre.net/2013/05/origin-systems/ birth]], [[http://www.escapistmagazine.com/articles/view/video-games/issues/issue_14/87-The-Conquest-of-Origin fall]], and [[https://techraptor.net/content/35th-anniversary-origin-systems-ultima legacy]] of Origin Systems, see the respective link.

Over its two decades of existence, many soon-to-be-famous video game developers got their start at Origin Systems, thanks to its culture of visionary game design, pushing the limits of technology, and [[DoingItForTheArt never cutting corners in pursuit of artistic goals]]. Some of these names include [[VideoGame/WingCommander Chris]] [[VideoGame/StarCitizen Roberts]], Creator/JohnRomero, [[VideoGame/UltimaOnline Raph]] [[VideoGame/StarWarsGalaxies Koster]], [[VideoGame/UltimaUnderworld Paul]] [[VideoGame/UnderworldAscendant Neurath]], [[VideoGame/DeusEx Warren]] [[VideoGame/EpicMickey Spector]], [[VideoGame/DeusEx Harvey]] [[Franchise/{{Dishonored}} Smith]], as well as the entire company of Creator/LookingGlassStudios[[note]]whose early breakthrough hits, ''VideoGame/UltimaUnderworld'' and ''VideoGame/SystemShock'', had all been published by Origin[[/note]]. However, like many top CRPG developers of TheEighties, Origin was hit hard by the [[Analysis/WesternRPG mid-90s crisis of the genre]], and encountered severe financial troubles on the publishing side of its business, despite the massive successes of ''VideoGame/WingCommander'' and ''VideoGame/UltimaVII''. Things went downhill from there.